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AI art sells for over $1 million, Partnership Brings Advanced AI to National Defense, SpaceX pitches "Marslink" to NASA, and more [11-08-2024]

USU Biochemists Report Breakthrough Research Toward Global Food Challenge

Utah State University biochemists report a breakthrough in research toward solving the global food challenge by identifying a minimum of seven genes that could enable cereal crops to achieve nitrogen fixation on their own, reducing the need for fertilizer. This could have significant implications for food security, environmental sustainability, and potential space exploration.

Source: https://www.usu.edu/today/story/down-to-seven-usu-biochemists-report-breakthrough-research-toward-global-food-challenge/


Ai-Da, the Ultra-Realistic Robot Artist, Sells First Artwork for Over $1.0 Million

The world's first ultra-realistic robot artist created a portrait of Alan Turing that became the first artwork by a humanoid robot to be sold at auction, fetching over 1 million dollars, marking a significant moment in the intersection of AI technology and the global art market. The portrait of Turing invites viewers to reflect on the god-like nature of AI and computing, while also considering the ethical and societal implications of these advancements.

Source: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/first-artwork-humanoid-robot-sells-005533003.html?&ncid=100001466


China's Mars Rover Zhurong Discovers Evidence of Ancient Ocean on Red Planet

China's Mars rover has discovered evidence of an ancient ocean on the red planet, providing insights into a watery past of the red planet. Data from the mission suggests that an ancient sea might have left rock deposits on the planet’s surface around 3.5 billion years ago. The discovery of sedimentary rocks and layering in rocks and sediment indicate past water activities, supporting the theory that the area was once covered by a sea.

Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3285637/chinas-mars-rover-zhurong-finds-evidence-ancient-ocean-red-planet?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage


SpaceX Proposes 'Marslink' as Next-Generation Relay Service for Mars

SpaceX is exploring the concept of Mars-Link, a version of its Starlink satellite internet system for the Red Planet. This project was mentioned during a NASA meeting, where the space agency is considering commercial services from aerospace companies to support missions to Mars. The Mars-Link concept would be based on Starlink satellite designs and aims to provide next-generation relay services capable of beaming 4 Megabytes-per-second or more in data across vast distances in space, potentially through a laser communication system. The proposal offers a glimpse into SpaceX's long-term vision for Starlink to support communications with spacecraft and eventually contribute to human colonization of Mars.

Source: https://www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-pitches-nasa-on-marslink-a-version-of-starlink-for-the-red-planet


Breakthrough Nanoscale Sensor Can Detect Lung Cancer in Exhaled Breath

Researchers have developed a nanoscale sensor that can detect lung cancer by analyzing the levels of a chemical called isoprene in exhaled breath. This breakthrough could lead to a non-invasive, low-cost method of early cancer detection, potentially saving lives. The sensor uses innovative gas sensing materials to detect isoprene levels as low as 2 parts per billion, showing promise for spotting lung cancer earlier and more easily.

Source: https://newatlas.com/cancer/detect-lung-cancer-exhaled-breath/


South Africa's Controversial Move towards Heritable Human Genome Editing Sparks Concerns

South Africa has updated its health-research ethics guidelines to include heritable human genome editing, sparking concerns among scientists. This move could potentially position South Africa as the first country to accept this controversial technique, which involves introducing genetic changes for inheritance through successive generations. In contrast, the international consensus among researchers is that heritable human genome editing is not acceptable in the clinical setting due to significant ethical concerns and safety challenges.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03643-4


Collaboration to Bring Advanced AI Models to Defense Work Signals Public Sector AI Gold Rush

Anthropic, Palantir, and Amazon are collaborating to make Anthropic's Claude models available to U.S. intelligence and defense agencies, providing AI capabilities for processing complex data rapidly and helping officials make more informed decisions in time-sensitive situations. This partnership reflects the public sector AI gold rush and the increasing integration of advanced technologies into government and defense operations, highlighting the need for careful oversight and strategic implementation.

Source: https://www.axios.com/2024/11/08/anthropic-palantir-amazon-claude-defense-ai


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